Ship Offering This Itinerary

Spirit of Enderby

The Spirit of Enderby is a fully ice-strengthened expedition vessel, built in 1984 for polar and oceanographic research and is perfect for expedition travel. She carries just 50 passengers and was refurbished in March 2013 to provide comfortable accommodation in twin share cabins approximately half of which have private facilities. All cabins have outside windows or portholes and ample storage space. On board there is a combined bar/library lounge area and a dedicated lecture room. The cuisine is very good and is prepared by top NZ and Australian chefs.

The real focus and emphasis of every expedition is getting you into zodiacs, or ashore as often as possible for as long as possible with maximum safety and comfort. Our Expeditions are accompanied by some of the most experienced naturalists and guides, who have devoted a lifetime to field research in the areas that we visit. The ship is crewed by a very enthusiastic and experienced Russian Captain and crew.

Day 1 Petropavlovsk- Kamchatskiy

Overview:

You will be transferred to the Spirit of Enderby for embarkation as you depart for the Commander Islands. You are more than welcome on the bridge as you sail from what some people consider the best natural harbour in the world. There is also some good birding to keep an eye out for as you leave the shoreline behind.

Day 2 At Sea

Spend the day at sea as you cruise towards the Commander Islands. Enjoy several lectures and briefings as you prepare for the days ahead. It is also a good time to be on deck as the birding is good with Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel and Red-legged Kittiwake amongst the likely sightings.

Days 3-4 Commander Islands

There are two main islands in the Commander group, Bering and Medny, and during your two days you will be able to explore several sites combining the best of the natural and cultural history. There is an excellent chance of finding Rock Sandpiper, Mongolian Plover, Pechora Pipit and Grey-crowned Rosy-Finch, as well as the endemic subspecies of Arctic Fox. Zodiac cruising can be extremely rewarding here with several species of auklets as well as the Red-legged Kittiwake. The area is also extremely rich in marine mammals. Potential species include Sperm, Humpback, Northern Minke and Baird’s Beaked-Whales, as well as Orcas, Steller Sea Lions, Northern Fur Seals and Pacific Sea Otters. Include a visit to the small settlement of Nikolskoye and the local museum.

Day 5 Zhupanova River, Kamchatka

Spend several hours in the Zodiacs cruising on the scenic Zhupanova River where you should get great looks at Steller’s Sea Eagles as the birds often nest in the trees adjacent to the river. Other highlights could include Far Eastern Curlew, Long-toed Stint, Kamchatka Gull and Aleutian Tern. There is also a major salmon fishery on the river which you can visit.

Day 6 Bukta Russkaya, Kamchatka

In this deep fiord on the Kamchatka Peninsula look for the endangered Kittlitz’s Murrelet as well as Long-billed Murrelet. Plan a short excursion at the head of the fiord where there is a chance of spotting brown bears. At the entrance to the fiord where you can Zodiac cruise, there are almost always Orcas and Steller Sea Lions.

Day 7 Second Kuril Strait, Atlasova & Onekotan Islands

Very early in the morning you will pass through the Second Kuril Strait which has one of the highest densities of Sea Otters in the Kuril Islands. Your landing on Atlasova Island is great for birders and non birders alike. There are the remains of a Gulag to explore and numerous species to see. This evening on Onekotan Island stretch your legs through an amazing field of wild flowers as you walk to Black Lake.

Day 8 Ekarma & Toporkovy Islands

During an early morning enjoy a Zodiac cruise at Ekarma Island where you will be rewarded with various alcids, with close looks at Tufted Puffin and Whiskered Auklet. This afternoon at Toporkovy Island in the shadow of the active Matua Island volcano expect to find Harlequin Ducks, Red-faced Cormorants, Tufted Puffins and Brunnich’s Guillemots. Ashore you could encounter Grey-tailed Tattler, Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler and Black-faced Bunting.

Day 9 Simushir & Yankicha Islands

Enter a flooded caldera at the northern end of Simushir Island where a once top secret Soviet submarine base lies abandoned. In the surrounding area look for Siberian Rubythroat, Eurasian Nutcracker, Pine Grosbeak and Japanese Grey Bunting. Our visit to Yankicha Island is likely to be one of the highlights of the voyage as the number of alcids which breed here is incredible, with spectacular concentrations of Crested and Whiskered Auklets.

Day 10 Chirpoy & Urup Islands

Depending on the weather in the morning you will either Zodiac cruise or land on Chirpoy Island where there are some dramatic volcanic landscapes and headlands covered in breeding seabirds. This afternoon’s landing on Urup Island is a chance to stretch your legs on an extended walk, beachcomb and look for Sea Otters or birds in the forest behind the beach.

Day 11 Iturup Island

Land at the small settlement of Kurilsk from where local buses/trucks will take you into the volcanic highlands to thermal hot pools where you can enjoy a soak or go birding. Possible species include Kamchatka Leaf-warbler, Japanese Robin, Siberian Accentor, Pine Grosbeak and Japanese Bush-warbler.

Day 12 Kunashir Island

Kunashir is the largest island in the Kuril chain. The plan is to land in the Kurilsky Reserve and explore the extensive area of woodland, where there are some good treks and impressive birding. This afternoon while you are at sea there is a chance for birding and an opportunity to recap and pack.

Day 13 Sakhalin Island

Farewell your new friends onboard the Spirit of Enderby and you arrive at the Port of Korskov on Sakhalin Island. You will be transferred to either a central hotel or the airport in the town of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.